Page 16 of Full Strength

“Just a few minutes.”

He shook his head. “I swear this kid is getting more and more mischievous.”

“Or he’s just smarter than his dad.”

Zach glared while I laughed.

“Thanks for the understanding.”

“I’m actually glad Owen called.”

Zach raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“I wanted your advice on something.”

Zach scowled then tapped his screen. “Sorry our connection must be bad. I think you broke up.”

I rolled my eyes. Of course, he was going to make me repeat myself. I was basically asking for his help. Or even worse telling him he was right about something.

“Don’t make this any harder on me than it already is.”

He smiled but didn’t taunt me anymore.

“I met a girl.”

His eyebrows shot up and even though I wanted to be annoyed, his shock was valid. I hadn’t really dated much since...well, ever. I’d never brought a girl home and I rarely talked about one.

“Things are complicated though.”

“They always are. What’s the situation?”

I was grateful he was taking this seriously and clicking into his pragmatic, computer programmer mode.

“Well, for starters, I asked her out and she said no.”

Zach pursed his lips but didn’t laugh. Wow. He was maturing.

“But the real obstacle, to her not me, is that she’s a single mom.”

He nodded a few times then sighed. “That’s a tough one, Grant.”

“I know.”

“I’m not trying to rub it in your face or talk down to you, but you don’t know what it’s like to have a child.”

I nodded. “She’s pointed that out a few times.”

“Right and it’s not that she thinks you wouldn’t be able to handle it. But raising a child is not something to take lightly. You may like her and want to have a future together. You may think her child isn’t a big deal, that you’ll adjust. But it’s very different to her. She isn’t just thinking about herself and how things will affect her. She has to weigh every decision and think about what’s best for her kid.”

“And I’m a bad decision?”

He shrugged. “You’re a risk. You’re a professional athlete. That’s a little intimidating to us mere mortals. You have a crazy scheduled and you’re traveling nonstop.”

“There’s plenty of guys on the team with kids.”

“I know that but they weren’t instant dads or step dads. They eased into it with their spouse. This girl has to be willing to let you into her world and teach you how to parent. If she wants you in that role. As a single mom she probably has things down. You would be throwing a wrench in that.”

I sighed. He was probably right. He understood her perspective better than I could.